The 48th Annual L.A. Roadsters Show & Swap - Show Thing

1/26The show itself may only be open to roadsters, but the swap meet and Specialty Parking areas are open to all, and who doesn’t love a blown, straight-axle–equipped Mopar? Above right: Ironically, though the owners of both these early Fords are Forever Four members, Don Stevens brought his Flathead-motored A roadster, and “Cigar” Larry’s ’27 T phaeton has had a Quad 4 swapped in since we featured it.

Almost a half century is a long time for any event to survive, but if you’ve ever been to the L.A. Roadsters Show & Swap, or Father’s Day as it’s more widely known, you’ll know the club strives to improve the show every year, surely contributing to its success. While the show has been at the Fairplex in Pomona, California, for 33 years, last year saw the biggest change in that time, with a new layout expanding into the inner fairgrounds, and opening an air-conditioned building for many vendors.

2/26The show itself may only be open to roadsters, but the swap meet and Specialty Parking areas are open to all, and who doesn’t love a blown, straight-axle–equipped Mopar? Above right: Ironically, though the owners of both these early Fords are Forever Four members, Don Stevens brought his Flathead-motored A roadster, and “Cigar” Larry’s ’27 T phaeton has had a Quad 4 swapped in since we featured it.

Like or loathe the new layout, there’s definitely more space available for roadster owners, vendors, and those in the Specialty Parking or swap meet areas. It’s the latter that always draws your scribe, who could happily spend the entire event in the swap meet. In the past I’ve done just that, either buying or selling, but that doesn’t get many pictures taken or info gathered, so for the past few years I’ve donned my walking boots and hat, and made sure I saw every corner of the show, camera in hand. I still think some of the best discoveries are in the swap though, whether cars or just cool parts.

If you’ve never been, you owe it to yourself to make it a date next year. It’s easy to remember, as it happens over the Father’s Day weekend. Just get yourself close to Pomona and follow a roadster to the Fairplex!